Bottle-filling machine.



.I. M. FALLS & L. WILLIAMS.

BOTTLE FILLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1908.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909.

WITNESSES:

JAMES M. FALLS AND LEQlfidRDi. WILLIAMS, 8? EQUISV'ILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSZGNOES "T LQ'U'ISVILLE FILLER C OLMPANY.

BOTTEEFILLING EKACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed August 28, 1808. fierial No. teases.

to all "wliomit may comer drawings, in which similar letters Be itdi town that we, James M. FALLS and Lroxann l. ll iiiciains, of the city of Louisville, county of Jefferson, and State of Ken tucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Filling Machines and that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of same.

()ur invention relates to that class of bottle titling machines in which the liquid is introduced into the bottles through tubes, the bottles beingtightly stopped, and the air displaced by the incoming liquid is permitted to escape through a passage prorided for that purpose, either within or without the filling-tube. in such machines, it a bottle becomes full to the level of the 'air-outlct. and the supply of liquid is not at once cut oil, the liquid will be forced through the air-tube.

The objects of the presence invention are first: to provide for the automatic dispositicn ot the said overflow from the air tubes in such a way as to avoid undue exposure of the liquid to the air or containing: vessels likely to alter it, and second: to provide an etl'ective and positive method of sealing the said air tubes and passages while bottles are being changed. thus a voiding drippage from either end of same.

Reference made to the accompanying and figures indicate similar parts. V

Figure l a perspective view of one end of the filling tank of a bottle. filling machine, together with one of the two standards which support it; showing also part of the bed with bottles thereon, several of the filling tubes depending therefrom and the overflow conduit and overflow delivery-tube connected with same. Fig. 2 slrwws a vertical front section. of the orcrllow delivery-tube, being a detail drawing ot the tube marked C in Fig. t. Fig. 3 shows a side view of one form of filling tube. l swing a detailed drawing of the tubes marked B in Figzl; with a part of the upper portion cut away to show the intcrior.

.is shown in these specifications, the improvements have been applied to that class of bottle filling machines in which the tilling tanlc carries filling tubes depending therefrom. and is firmly attached to vertically reciprocating standards. Variations from this type do not affect the usefulness or applicability of our invention but for two standards like that at D, one at eitherend, to which standards it is attached by clamps permitting its adjustment at various heights depending on the height 01 the bottles tobe filled. From the lower part of the filling tank A depend filling tubes like that shown at B, designed to enter the necks dtbottles standing beneath. The standards, tankand tubes are, in the form of the mechanism shown, designed to have a vertically reciprocating motion, the downward thrust introducing the tips of the tubes B..1nto the mouths of empty bottles and at the same time admitting liquid from the filling tank through the tubes into the bottles; the upward motion withdrawing the tips from theloottles and shutting off the liquid supply. G is the bed of the machine, supportedton a suitable frame not shown in the figures. Guide rods shown at E, supported at a con venient distance above the bed, govern the progress of bottles as they advance to a filling position, and a rod F, by suitable mechanism not shown in the figure, is propelled the width of a bottle toward the row of filling tubes, during the lastpart of the up stroke of the tubes and tank; and moved rearwardly during the down stroke to its former position, leaving a space. for the insertion of bottles while others are filling. The guides E the rod F, with a means for producinga. vertically reciprocating motion of the tubes and tank and of producing the motion of the rod F are fully described in United States Letters Patent No. 892,482), granted July 7, 1908 to the applicants herein.

The filling tubes employed here, which are shown at B in Fig. 1 and also illustrated in Fig. 3, are fully described in the application for Letters Patent of the United States filed November 9th,1907, Serial Number 401,449, by James M. Falls, and their invention claimed therein. No particular form of filling tubes is essential to use of the present invention provided the bottle to be filled is closed during filling except for smaller tube opening below at 12 the tube through which liquid enters and except for a second outlet for the escape of the contained air. The Falls tube is adopted in this description only for clearness and concreteness. The said filling tubes here employed consist essentially (see F ig. 3) of a perforated cylinder 10 screwed into the lower wall of the filling tank A, a closed collar or jacket 11 surrounding the perforated cylinder 10 so as to make an air tight chamber, and a movable filling tube proper 12 closed at the top, sliding through said chamber and into the filling tank, further provided with an annular projection 13 at the top within said filling tank which projection is designed when the tube 12 slides downward, to form an air tight connection by means of the seat ring 14 and the fixed seat 15. Perforations in the walls of the sliding tube immediately below the annular projection 13 form a free communication between the bore of the tube and the filling tank, when the tube-12 is in a raised posltion so as to unseat the valve 13, 14, l5,which communication is destroyed when said valve is closed.

WVithin the sliding tube 12 is sealed a in the wall of the tube 12 near its end and above'at 12 in the wall of the said tube at such point that when the said tube is pushed upward the inner tube opens into the chamber formed by the cylinder 10 and the jacket 11 but when the tube is pulled downward so that the valve 13, 14, 15 is closed, the said upper opening of the inner tube is closed by coming opposite the bearing through which the tube 12 slides in the lower wall of the chamber. A cap 17' containing a cushion of rubber or other elastic material is firmly attached to the lower portion of the sliding tube and adapted, when the tank and tubes are lowcred so that the said cushion rests firmly on the bottle mouth, hermetically to close same.

the-fixed clamp 19 ant the lower portion of the tube up,and the the chan'ib er formeo by other terminates in com ression rin 18 bearin against the fixed portion tends to keep the tube 12 pulled downward and the valve at 13, 14, 15 closed at all times except when the reaction of the bottle mouth upon ,the cap 17 forces valve open. The pas sage 20 forms an outlet from the interior of i the cylinder 10 and the acket 11 and leads to the conduit- 21.

The conduit 21, best seen in Fig. 1, also shown in section, in Fig. 3, is closed at one end (not shown in the drawing) and at the a tube 22 with which the tube 41 is slidably connected through a slide The various filling tubes are provj-eled witlrtiihes, as before described conn'ecting the air c amber of each with the conduit 21.

Fastcned to the under side of the tank is a brace or support 24 piercedwith a slot 25 in which slides a projection 25 on the upper portion. of the oreriiow deliverytube 0 described in detail hereinafter. The said delivery tube is capable of fixed adjustment at varying distances from the filling tank by means of a thumb screw 26.

1n the overflow delivery tube C above mentioned a cylindrical head piece contracted top and bottom and provided externally with the projection 23 adapted to slid-c in slot 23 is bored within so as to form a chamber and is pierced by an opening terminating in a tube4ll which leads through the slip joint 23 into the tube 22. In the lower contracted portion of the bore of the cylindrical head piece and forming a portion of the floor of the above m ntioned chamber is screwed a gland 27. Axially through the cylindrical head piece slides the delivery tube proper 30, which is closed above the point 33. At its upper end it .slides'through and is guided by'an opening 31 in the said head piece just large enough to permit easy sliding and below it slides through the gland 27 and the packing nut 29. At a part of the said sliding tube within the chamber is integrally attached anannular projection the under surface of which is ground to a slight convex curve and designed with a seatring 4-2, concavely curved both above and-below, to rest when the tube is depressed on a convexly curved seat 28 screwed into the glalu'l 27, the whole forming a perfect seal.

Below the annular projection 32 two openings 33 pierce the walls of the filling tube 30, said openings so long asthe tube 30 is raised forming a con'nnunication between said tube and the chamber. Vhen the tube 30 is depressed so that the 'valve 28, 32 is closed, this coinnuniication is interrupted both by the-said valve and by the openings 33 passing into the hearing at 28..

The clamp 37 adjustably attached to the "tree portion of the tube proper 3O SllpPOI't'S a COIDPI'CSSlOl'l spring 36 which tends to keep the tube 30 pulled down and the valve 28. 32 closed. A. second and'loweradjustable clamp 37 is loosely attached. by a single screw to a bearing plate 38 which is corru gated on its under side and perforated.

The cap 39 at the top ot the head piece protects the bearing from dust.

The operation oi the apparatus is briefly as follows :l\ row of bottles being beneath the fillingtube 'B, a second row of empty bottles in place in front of them and the tube (1 being adjusted, at such a distance from the tilting tank as to enter a bottle of the second row, the tank and tube are depressed by proper mechanism and the rod F simultaneously moves back, leaving a space between itself/and the second row of bottles for placing a third row while the first is filling.

cadres When the contact plate 38 of the deliveryt-ube Ostrihes the mouth of the empty bottle of the second row for which it has been adjusted, the delivery tube proper within same I, is pushed upward,'compress1ng the spring 36 opening a tree passage through the perforations 33 for the escape of the contents of the chamber 40. At approximately the same time the pad within the cap 17 of each oi the filling tubes 3 strikes the top of the bottle underneath it,

and the tube 12 is pushed upward, conipressing the spring 18 and opening the valve lei, 15,16 so that liquid flows from the filling tank A: through the filling tube proper 20 into the bottles. As the bottles fill, the contained air entering; the inner air tube at- 12 passes up into the chamber 16,11 out through the tube 20, the conduit 21, the tubes 22 and 41, and the delivery tube C. When the bottle is so full as to cover the lower opening 12* of the air vent, the liquid ceases to rise in the neck of the bottle, but during; the interval until the opcrator raises the tank and tube, the said liquid is forced through the air tube 12, 12 to the chamber 40, and following the same course as the contained air, discharges eventually through the delivery tube G into an. empty bottle of the second row.

Yi"l1e11 the operator raises the tank A and the attached tubes B, the filling tube valves corresponding. to 14, l5, 16 are drawn into place by the spring 18 and the upper air tube openings 12' are partially sealed in each air tube by passing down into the bear- At the same time the overflow delivery tube C closes, the spring 36 bringing the valve 28, 32 to a perfect seal.

As before stated, at the latter part of the upward motion of the tank and tubes the rod F is propelled forward and places in line anew row of bottles to be filled. The fact that one bottle of this row already has a certain amount of overflow liquid therein causes no difiiculty inasmuch as the liquid can rise no higher in any bottle than the air vent 12, even though the bottles should reach that point at different times.

Before the present method of sealing all the air tubes at once by a positive valve in a separate delivery tube, the imperfect scalingot' the separate air tubes at their upper openings shown at 12* resulted in a certain amount of leaking from the lower opening 12, when no bottles were filling. The device herein described, besides providing; for the overflow through the air tubes, avoids absolutely the diiliculty above sct out by eflecting a hermetic and positive closure of the entire air passage by means of the *alvc 28, 32, capillary attraction being suflicient to retain in the tubesall the liquid therein contained.

ive claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patentthe following i. In a bottle-filling macbine,an improved delivery apparatus for air and overflow liquids from the bottles while filling, being in combination. of a sliding perforated tube closed above the perforation, a valve integrally attached to the sliding tube, means for providing a tight contact between the said valve and the corrcspoiuling surface below same in such manner as to seal the z-iliding tube, a headpiece inclosing a chamber through which the upper portion of said tube slides, and which bears the fixed valve scat, a spring operating to seat said alve, and means for arresting said tube as it enters a bottle beneath, with the air and overflow outlets from a multiplicity of bottles in a different row, and means for conducting the air and overflow liquids into the aforesaid cnambcr.

In a bottle filling machine, the head piece inclosing a cylindrical chamber into which leads an inflow tube, means for firmly holding said head piece at a variable distance in front o1 a line of filling tubes, a tube closed at the top and designed to slide upward and downward through said chamber, said tube being perforated so that when raised the perforations drain said chamber, and. two corresponding valve seats. one in tcgral with the lloor of the chamber, the

othenflxcd to the sliding tube. the two being soplaced that when the tube slides to its lowest position the chamber" is completely scaled with the exception of the inflow tube.

In a bottle filling machine, air tubes for the escape of air and overflow liquid from bottles while liquid is entering same and a device for triplicate sealing of the said air and overflow tubes, consisting of an air tube sealed in each of seve'al movable filling tubes, chambers into which said air tubes discharge while the filling tube is discharging but whose "alls close the opening of said air tubes when the filling tube is depressed: a conduit leading from said chan1- hers and terminating in a second chamber.

a sliding delivery tube in said second cham- I ing a closed passage for conducting the air and overflow liquid from bottles while fill-,

ing into a bottle or bottles in one of the trimsvcrse rows not yet advanced to a filling position, and a springnctuated valve her} mcticallv closing said air and overflow sage so that no opening appears from end while bottles are not nlling,

to end, said valve being closed by a spring and opened by theupward pressure of a bottle-top.

5. In a bottle-filling machine, the combination of a multiplicity of filling" tubes rovided with air and overflow tubes, parts orming a single closed chamber into which all of said air and overflow tubes deliver without access of air, a slidable tube within said chamber, and a ring-seated valve concentric with said tube, operating when closed to seal the entire lengthof said air and overflow passage, as well as said slidable tube.

6. In a bottle-filling machine, means for directing air and overflow liquid from bottles while filling into a bottle of another row, embodying an air and overflow conduit, a headpiece inclosing a chamber into which said conduit delivers, said chamber being supported so as to be adjustable at varying distances from the line of filling tubes, a perforated tube slidable within said chamber, and a valve operating to drain said chamber through the tube when said valve is open, and to close the tube when seated, the said valve being operated by the pressure of the bottle into which the overflow is discharged.

7. In a bottle-filling machine employing tubes for the escape of air and overflow liquid from bottles while filling, means for preventing drippage from either end of same embodying the combination of parts furnishing a. continuous air-tight passage from each bottle through a common conduit to the place of discharge, and a valve preventing flow of air or liquid in either direction in said passage, while bottles are not filling.

8. In a bottle filling machine, a delivery tube and attachments'for discharging air and overflow liquid from bottles in process of filling into an isolated bottle simultane ously with the filling of the bottles, the said device consisting of a top piece forming a chamber and a perforated valve-closed tube sliding therethrongh, a lug attached to the top piece, a slotted bracket integrally fastened to the body of the machine, and designed to receive said lug, a thumb-screw designed to fasten said lug at any desired position in the slot, a conduit tube delivering into the chamber previously mentioned, and a. slip-jointin said conduit tube to permit the adjustment of said delivery tube and attachments at varying distance from the line of filling tubes.

9. In a bottle-filling machine, air and overflow tubes from the bottles, means for delivering the air and overflow liquid from all bottles into one of a row ofnnflllcd bot tles, and a drip-preventing valve operated by the pressure of the bottle into which the overflow is discharged, and independent in its action of bottles which are being filled.

10. The combination with a multiplicity of filling tubes in a bottle filling machine, each provided with a air from the bottles overflow conduit draining said air tubes, a spring-actuated delivery-tube placed so as to deliver overflow liquid from the aforesaid conduit into a bottle not yet in filling position, but ina row later to take such position, and a ring valve attachedto said overflow delivery tube and adapted to close hermetically the overflow conduit.

ll. In a bottle forming a chamber for air and overflow liquid from bottles while filling, means for supporting same ata varying distance from the line of filling tubes, means for conducting air and overflow liquid from bottles while filling to said chamber, a perforated tube closed at the top and sliding through said chamber, an annular projection on said tube within the chamber, means for seating said projection so as to close the said tube, a clamp attachableto the sliding t ube,-a spring tending to draw the tube downward, a second clamp attached to the tube below the first-named clamp, a bearing plate attached thereto, and means thereon for preventing closure of the bottle by said bearing plate.

12. The combination in a bottle-filling machine of means for stoppering bottles \vhile filling, except for a filling-tube and an air and overflow tube which penetrate the stopper, a common closed reservoir into which said air and overflow tubes deliver, the whole of said passage for air and overflow bcing air-tight except at the openends of same, a spri11g-'actu:.\ted perforated tube vertically slidable through said reservoir, and a valve in connection therewith permitting when open escape of air and overflow liquid through said tube, but when closed preventing by atmospheric pressure the escape of liquid at either end of said passage.

13. In a bottle filling machine, the combination with a multiplicity of filling tubes provided with valves regulating the flow into bottles, of an air and overflow discharge apparatus, consisting of a chamber into which the air and overflow liquid from botties while filling is delivered, a continuous closed passage for said overflow, an outlet for air and liquid penetrating said chamber so as to drain same, a valve for regulating said outlet, and means for automatically tqScniug and closing the said valvecoinidentlv with the opening and closing of the valves regulating flow into the bottles.

JAMES M. lillS. LEONARD l 'WZLLIABIS.

filling machine, parts 

